On December 25, 2002, at 12 years old, I learned how to solve a Rubik’s cube. After a few years, I became an expert with this puzzle. Now, I am able to solve the cube whenever I pick it up regardless of how jumbled the colors are. It took time, though to become as good as I am now at this; to know what to look for in the color patterns or which algorithm to use at what time. Not only that, but I know the algorithms as well as I know how to tie my shoes every day. With the combination of skill and muscle memory, I have mastered the Rubik’s cube.
The development process of this ability was complex and time consuming compared to how small and deceivingly simple this puzzle is. There are three very important steps to mastering it that, if undervalued, can result in frustration in not being able to truly learn the skills to solve the puzzle. The first step is to understand the algorithms. I wrote down each algorithm in a way so I could easily understand how to use them. The second step I took was to learn in what order to use the algorithms. This step is the most time consuming. Not only did I need to learn the order of the algorithms, but I needed to practice them a few times each. Therefore, I stayed with a Rubik’s cube in hand for hours on Christmas just practicing and learning.
The second step of this process is a lot more complex than simply practicing the algorithms, though. I couldn’t just repeatedly carry out the same combination of twists and turns and know that I did it right every time. In order to practice, let’s say the fourth algorithm, I must first succeed in algorithms one, two, and three. Therefore, I had to start from scratch every time I wanted to practice any algorithm. Now, it is a little clearer of how much time is involved in truly learning the process of solving this puzzle. It can get frustrating or boring, but if I didn’t continuously stay with it at this crucial time, I know that I would not have been able to succeed in the end.
Now that I was able to solve the Rubik’s cube many times without mistakes, I had to keep practicing; which is the third and final step. I would practice solving the cube any chance I got. This is important because I was reinforcing the skills that I learned on Christmas so that I would remember longer and make fewer mistakes. Now, I can solve a Rubik’s cube easily because the algorithms have become second nature to me. I have done them so many times over the years that I have developed muscle memory for them, and barely need to consciously think while solving the cube.
I am a person who loves solving a puzzle. Anything that needs to be figured out with logic or tricks has always intrigued me, and that is how I got interested to learn this skill. I did not do all of this on my own, of course. When I learned that my older cousin knew how to solve a Rubik’s cube, my curiosity in something I found so baffling became desire to understand. I begged my cousin to teach me and finally he did. The three steps that I previously explained were from his instruction. It was with his direction and my drive that I was able to master the secret of the Rubik’s cube.
The development process of this ability was complex and time consuming compared to how small and deceivingly simple this puzzle is. There are three very important steps to mastering it that, if undervalued, can result in frustration in not being able to truly learn the skills to solve the puzzle. The first step is to understand the algorithms. I wrote down each algorithm in a way so I could easily understand how to use them. The second step I took was to learn in what order to use the algorithms. This step is the most time consuming. Not only did I need to learn the order of the algorithms, but I needed to practice them a few times each. Therefore, I stayed with a Rubik’s cube in hand for hours on Christmas just practicing and learning.
The second step of this process is a lot more complex than simply practicing the algorithms, though. I couldn’t just repeatedly carry out the same combination of twists and turns and know that I did it right every time. In order to practice, let’s say the fourth algorithm, I must first succeed in algorithms one, two, and three. Therefore, I had to start from scratch every time I wanted to practice any algorithm. Now, it is a little clearer of how much time is involved in truly learning the process of solving this puzzle. It can get frustrating or boring, but if I didn’t continuously stay with it at this crucial time, I know that I would not have been able to succeed in the end.
Now that I was able to solve the Rubik’s cube many times without mistakes, I had to keep practicing; which is the third and final step. I would practice solving the cube any chance I got. This is important because I was reinforcing the skills that I learned on Christmas so that I would remember longer and make fewer mistakes. Now, I can solve a Rubik’s cube easily because the algorithms have become second nature to me. I have done them so many times over the years that I have developed muscle memory for them, and barely need to consciously think while solving the cube.
I am a person who loves solving a puzzle. Anything that needs to be figured out with logic or tricks has always intrigued me, and that is how I got interested to learn this skill. I did not do all of this on my own, of course. When I learned that my older cousin knew how to solve a Rubik’s cube, my curiosity in something I found so baffling became desire to understand. I begged my cousin to teach me and finally he did. The three steps that I previously explained were from his instruction. It was with his direction and my drive that I was able to master the secret of the Rubik’s cube.